The minister writes:
It’s day one of the General Assembly here in Edinburgh.
We’ll start with the usual ceremonial, including the installation of a Moderator, Rev John Chalmers, who was nominated later than usual when the original nominee had to pull out due to ill health.
A controversial subjects this week will include the latest attempt to legislate to allow those Kirk Sessions who wish to appoint a minister who is in a same-sex civil partnership.
Inverness Presbytery has objected already two items in the report of the Church and Society Council, of which I’m a member.
The first is a proposal to change the name of school assemblies to ‘Time for Reflection’.
The second is an objection to some of the theology in a report about violence against women.
There’s also a surprise late addition to the programme- an informal debate, led by guest speakers, on Scottish independence. The Kirk is taking no formal stance om independence, and the debate- on Tuesday- will make no binding decisions.
I’m here with another commissioner from Old High St Stephen’s, our presbytery elder, Christine Mackenzie.
You can keep up with the assembly live, and read daily reports, on the Church of Scotland website.

What a weekend! Lunch with @danners430 at @CairngormHotel, AGM of @StrathspeyRail Society with talk on @NetworkRailHML. Great music at 2 Sunday services at @Invernesschurch, then our happy Inverness Christmas Lights service with @EventsInverness raising money for @mfrcashforkids